Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Freshman Lane Brooks made the most of her first start on the offensive end of the pitch Tuesday night, scoring both goals as Barton College shut out Salem College, 2-0, in the 2014 home opener for the Lady Bulldogs.
The victory helped Barton improve to 2-1-1 on the season, while the Spirits dropped to 4-2 on the year.
Brooks, who played her first three matches for the Royal Blue and White as a defender, was moved to forward by head coach Todd Clark in an attempt to provide BC with some more offense. The Middletown, Del., resident certainly did that, equaling Barton's season goal total by herself.
With less than a minute to play in the first half, Barton's Grace Fehan booted a ball from the right side near midfield into the middle of the pitch just beyond the 18-yard box. Brooks took the entry pass, turned around one defender and fired past Salem keeper Kimmi Templeton for her first collegiate goal. The assist was the first of the season for Fehan, a sophomore from Powhatan, Va.
Less than five minutes into the second period, Brooks struck again. Kathryn Smith set up the goal, driving down the right sideline and playing a low roller parallel with the goal line into the middle, where a charging Brooks finished off her second goal of the night. The assist was the second of the season for Smith.
Brooks nearly collected a hat trick, whistling a shot from the far left wing in the 76th minute which sailed just over the crossbar. Barton took 17 total shots in the contest to just seven for the Spirits. Templeton had four saves for Salem, an NCAA Division III Tournament team from a season ago.
Barton senior keeper Carson Moore had a generally quiet night in recording her second shutout of the season and the 14th of her career. The Greenville, N.C., resident had three saves, but was seriously threatened on just one of those, a shot by Brooke Bukas from the close left wing which the 5-3 keeper leaped to save.
Salem had great opportunities on both of its corner kicks, which both became mad scrambles inside the penalty area. The BC defense eventually cleared one and Moore smothered the other one. The second corner came in the 87th minute, just after the best scoring chance of the night for the Spirits. Junior Summer Rich worked free for what appeared to be a one-on-one off the left wing, but just as she fired her attempt, Barton's All-Southeast Region defender, Kasay Byzewski, raced back to block the shot away.
Barton will return to action on Saturday when it welcomes North Greenville University to campus for a 5 p.m. conference match as part of the college's Family Weekend.
